Adult IVF children worried about health

We have seen a few studies pointing to higher risks of birth defects as a result of IVF. But it isn't just birth defects that are a worry with IVF, as new research shows. Heart conditions and diabetes are the top fears of grown IVF children. IVF children are so universally worried about their health that over 100,000 of them have opted to have their health monitored.

The European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (Eshre), is funding the study. The deputy head of their IVF safety group, Dr Karl Nygren, explained that there has been very little research about the long-term effects of IVF as the first so-called test tube babies are now in their thirties. IVF could have some unwanted consequences the medical establishment isn't yet aware of, and this new study will track those possible consequences. We don't know what happens to these children when they are 40 or 50 or 60 years old. There is a theory that says if you are born prematurely you might suffer more diabetes and heart disease but we don't know if that's going to happen. We know a lot but we don't know everything - we will have to continue to follow what's happening.

He also pointed out that some of the possible health risks associated with IVF are linked to higher rates of multiples, and premature births often resulting from multiple pregnancies. But the problem is that no reliable research is available currently, meaning that anything said about the health risks that IVF children might suffer is mere speculation. This will be a long-term study that will end with many new insights and statistics, no matter what the outcome is. I am truly curious what the findings will be. What do you think? Is IVF safe? Is there anything that can be done to improve the safety of the procedure? If the study happens to conclude that IVF carries significant health risks for those conceived through this procedure, do you think IVF will be a thing of the past?